ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS. 269 
It should be remembered that both Brisson’s and Gmelin’s 
descriptions are not original, but taken from older authors. 
Aquila rufonuchalis, n. s., the Lesser Spotted 
Eagle of Europe. 
As far as I can see, there is not any existing term which 
is clearly applicable to this Eagle, and I therefore give it a 
name for convenience sake, and having reference to its first 
plumage. 
Continental as well as English naturalists have been in the 
habit of applying to it the term of Aquila nevia, but this terra 
is, as Mr. Dresser has shewn (Annals and Magazine of Nat. 
Hist., May 1874) wholly inapplicable; and with him I protest 
against its use for the species in question. 
A new name for so well known a bird will surprise many ; 
but who can prove to a demonstration that any previously 
existing term clearly belongs toit? Neither of Brehm’s terms 
“ pomarina’’ and “ subnevia’”’ relate to this Eagle, although they 
are given as synonyms by Mr. Sharpe. 
I shall describe this Eagle as follows.—Of nearly the same 
size as Aquila hastata, but slightly more robust; general tone 
of body plumage very similar, but more inclined to rufous, 
especially about the head ; the eye of the adult is said to be 
yellow, and I have seen a note to this effect upon the labels 
of skins collected by Mr. Robson at Belgrade ; in the first plumage 
it has a large fulvous or buff triangular nuchal patch, the point 
of the triangle being downwards; the size of this patch is 
about two inches wide by one and a half inches in depth; the 
spots on the wings are similar to those of Aquila hastata, but the 
markings on the head and neck differ, being more like very 
narrow short stripes, instead of simple light tips; there are 
spots on the lower back, sometimes triangular, and sometimes 
plain roundish spots at the end of the feather; the lower tail 
coverts are, as a rule, of a darker tone than in Aquila hastata, 
and are striped or spotted as the case may be, with dull whitish ; 
in adult plumage it is of course entirely spotless, being then 
a plain hair brown bird like Aquila hastata? in this stage the 
head and carpal region of the wing are generally lighter in 
tone than the rest of the upper surface. The tone of the bird 
in this stage, especially about the head, is more rufous than 
that of Aquila hastata. 
I have examined three examples in first plumage, and they 
all correspond as regards the remarkable nuchal patch. There 
is a fourth in the Norwich museum with, I am told, a similar 
patch, but this one I have not seen ; anyhow, a concord between 
three examples, and the first three young birds I have seen, 
